Social-Emotional Learning News
News on SEL Activities, Wellness, Events, & Training #6
Week of November 8th, 2021
So much to Celebrate this week!
Congratulations Cougars in all the sports!! The 2021-2022 seasons have been so exciting and it is amazing to watch these students lead and accomplish so much together! Go Coogs!!
We will be Celebrating our Veterans this week and honoring them for their sacrifice and service to serve our country. Send a special text or call the Veterans in your family or friends and tell them a special 'Thank you" message.
Thank you to those who came out to the PD on the 3 SEL Signature Practices on Thursday the 4th!! That was a lot of fun and I hope everyone had a good time and has a good understanding of what these are all about. We will have another PD on these practices in the spring!
Below you will find HEY! Day information for November so you can plan ahead! Remember to wear green on Wednesdays!
Find out more on the Cougar CARES Website!
Take Care and Read on!
Laura
It's School Psychology Week!! Celebrate your LSSPs!!!
Thanks for all you do!!
HEY! Week Has Turned Into HEY! Day!! EVERY WEDNESDAY!!
Hey!
Keep up the positivity by having HEY! Day every Wednesday!
You all have created some amazing energy over the past few weeks! We will continue to have a District-wide focus each Wednesday with some options for your campus and classroom. Remember to WEAR GREEN on Wednesdays to promote friendliness!
SEE BELOW FOR ALL OF NOVEMBER'S HEY! DAYS!!
For your social media photos - tag @Crosby ISD and use the hashtags #HEY #HeyDay
Or you can also send photos over to either Ms. Richard or Mr. Birkinbine via email.
HEY! Day! Really lasted all week! Here are a few photos :)
Student Future Headline!
This was our HEY! Day activity last week!
Thank You! to CES' Counselor and Librarian!
College Week! - Some of CHS' Door Decorating Contestants!
Senior Day Fun Day!
Hats Off to Chef and Crew at The Bistro!
HEY! Let's Serve Others!
HEY! Day November 10th!
On HEY! Day on Nov. 10th, encourage your students to go out of their way to find people to help, do something "extra" for someone, and have them share how they feel. This week let's Celebrate Veteran's Day (Nov. 11th) and Celebrate the World Kindness Day! (Nov. 13th)
Social Awareness is a strong theme for both of these important Celebrations this week! It is a wonderful thing to say "Thank You" to a Veteran and think of what they have done for America. Can you imagine? Some of you may be a Veteran and can share your experience and bring more understanding to our students. It's also good to be aware of others and express empathy and kindness to develop a deeper sense of social awareness and improve relationships.
Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, is a tribute to military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, which honors those who died while in service, Veterans Day honors all military veterans, including those still with us.
Great activities for all students on HEY! Day to Celebrate Veteran's Day!
Veteran's Day message - HERE
Veteran's Day Activities - HERE
Writing letters to troops is one of the easiest and most meaningful virtual Veterans Day activities. This is a great exercise for children and adults alike. Simply compose personal messages, and then send the letters to active duty soldiers. Deployment can get lonely, and a bit of human connection can mean a lot.
Here are some organizations that send letters to soldiers:
- Soldiers’ Angels
- Operation Gratitude
- A Million Thanks
- Operation We Are Here
- Forgotten Soldiers’ Outreach
Please send cards, letters and donations to:
Americas Adopt A Soldier
P.O. Box 1049
Springfield, VA 22151
The objective of World Kindness Day is to spread kindness with small gestures. The main tradition of the day is to be kind and to try and encourage kindness to prevail over hatred. Whether it’s helping out someone with chores, taking the time out to ask how someone is doing, or complimenting someone, the name of the game is kindness, and we all have it in us.
Want to feel better? Have a more positive attitude? One sure way to improve your mindset, attitude and emotional state is by helping other people.
Great activities for all students on HEY! Day World Kindness Day!
Acts of Service BINGO cards - HERE - Play a game of BINGO with your class! Have a class
competition on your campus to see who can accomplish the most Acts of Service!
Kid President video about giving back - HERE
This is a great video on how an attitude of helpfulness can change you for the better! HERE
Video on World Kindness Day - HERE
#HEYDay #WorldKindnessDay #ActsOfKindness
Interesting Facts About Veterans Today
19.5 million – the approximate number of veterans in the United States.
9 million – the number of veterans over the age of 65.
5.06 million – the number of veterans receiving disability compensation.
2 million – the number of female veterans of those
receiving disability compensation.
500k – the number of World War II veterans still living in the United States.
1.56 million – the number of veterans in California,
the highest number in the country.
1.46 million – the number of veterans in Texas, the second-highest
number in the country.
HEY!! Have an Attitude of Gratitude!
HEY! Day November 17th!
On HEY! Day, Nov. 17th, let's write a note of thanks to others today! Have your class write a note to the librarian, the custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, helpers, parents, teachers - whomever they want to to say a kind word of Thanks!
Great activities for all students on HEY! Day Day of Gratitude
Make a big poster of Gratitude and have everyone write on it to say thank you to others -
"What I'm Grateful For".
Mindfulness Thoughts or Writing Prompts - Use these to prompt your students to reflect grateful thoughts about things we don't always think about. Have them sit quietly with their thoughts, journal write, or share out loud:
Who is a person from your past who made you a better person?
What is a modern convenience that makes your life easier?
What’s a past challenge you got through that made you stronger or wiser?
Who is a person who makes you laugh?
Great activities about being Grateful - HERE
Gratitude BINGO - HERE - This is another BINGO game that can be a great motivator to get
students thinking about gratitude and demonstrating it all week! Have a competition with
your class, your campus or share with families to do over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Why being Grateful is important short video - HERE
Kid President 25 Reasons to be Grateful video - HERE
Gratitude music playlist - HERE
Mindfulness for Educators
Check Out This Great Mindfulness App for Educators!
You may already use GoNoodle as an educator, but have you used their mindfulness and breathing exercise activities? These look like they are for elementary, but TRUST ME, our older students enjoy them as well! Try them out with your class and for yourself! When you need a minute to settle down, get your mind right, or just focus - turn on one of these short mindfulness videos for your whole class and YOU to do! Students will appreciate your example!
"The idea behind GoNoodle® is simple: be a force of joy, health, and self-discovery for kids and the adults who love them. We power the good energy of kids where they are today: online, IRL at schools and home, and in the metaverse and beyond grounding them in the joy of being silly, mindful, and curious."
Check it out with me this week!
Check out GoNoodle Activities - HERE
Reduce Stress and Be More Present - That's What Mindfulness is All About!
Check out the Mindfulness strategies and practices on the Cougar CARES website.
These activities are geared to helping calm your brain and reduce stress.
These are great for your students as well!
https://sites.google.com/crosbyisd.org/cougarcaresresourcecenter/home?authuser=0
FREE SEL Conference!!
Second Annual SEL Resource Virtual Showcase
November 16
FREE REGISTRATION
Hosted by SEL4MA, this virtual conference will include interactive plenary presentations, live breakout sessions, exhibit booths, and opportunities to network and connect with hundreds of conference participants.
Discover new approaches to strengthen and enhance social and emotional learning in your community. Learn from national experts and exchange tips with other local SEL champions in this dynamic professional development event.
Topics will include:
- Intersecting SEL, social Justice, and equity for successful engagement across school communities
- Strategies for effective SEL from birth through grade 12
- Educator self-care during stressful times
- Innovative, interactive digital approaches to SEL
- Using SEL assessments to inform instructional practice and data-driven decision-making
- Funding sources to support SEL in schools and communities
Register at no charge. Join for all or part of the day. Take action now to ensure yourself a spot!
3 SEL Signature Practices - #1 Inclusive Welcome
Check out the Cougar CARES page on the 3 SEL Signature Practices and listen to a brief video on how to start using the Inclusive Welcome strategy! Website Page - HERE
Brief video on using the 3 SEL Signature Practices Playbook - HERE
3 SEL Signature Practices Inclusive Welcome Playbook - HERE
Here is the 3 SEL Signature Practices Inclusive Welcome Padlet with great ideas to use!
Please add in your own ideas and share with everyone what works for you!
Project RESTORE Trauma Informed Instruction
This "Lunch and Learn" was about the overview of the Project RESTORE training modules from TEA that help you know more about identifying and instructing students who have experienced trauma or chronic stress, which can benefit us all!
Check out the overview and the online modules at
https://www.texasprojectrestore.org/
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xKT6chuInwea2D4YoMaixriKtj7KH4DxfdtvA0J9jv4/copy#slide=id.p
Laura Ríchard
Please let me know and be sure and check the Cougar CARES website! It is updated at least weekly!
Email: lrichard@crosbyisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/crosbyisd.org/cougarcaresresourcecenter/home
Phone: 281-328-9200
Twitter: @lrich_99